Questions you’ll need answers to before any banking interview

Preparing for an interview isn’t rocket science. You spend as much time as you can researching the firm and the people with whom you’ll speak. Coming in armed with facts about a bank or other financial firm not only shows you’re invested in the process, it’ll also provide some salient talking points.

But where do you start? With all the information that’s made public today, it’s easy to get lost in the minutia. Business schools suggest you undertake a technical analysis of the company, digging into key data and the overall structure of the company. Here are the main questions you need answers to, courtesy of career counselors at NYU Stern School of Business. Many of the answers to these questions can be found on a bank’s website and in its quarterly and annual reports.

Who are the firm’s competitors? What is the firm’s competitive position in the industry?

How is the firm structured: by issues, functions, geography, etc.?

What is the corporate culture of the firm and why does that culture attract you?

What areas of the firm are most profitable?

Where are the key growth areas in the firm?

What are the key products/services of the firm which are the most successful and why?

How profitable have the firm’s key divisions performed during the last two or three quarters?

If you wanted to buy stock in that firm, what are the “numbers” that prove such a purchase would be a wise investment?